The City of Marion and Marion Business Association are making plans for the annual Independence Day Celebration.  Due to the heat of the day, the event will begin with the parade at 6:00 p.m. 

The Parade Marshal will be Bob Smith and McDowell County Veterans.  All veterans are encouraged to participate.  Entry will be organized by the Veteran’s Service Office, 652-2911.

Parade line-up will be in the parking lots Asheville Federal, Wells Fargo and Bank of America.  Line-up begins at 5:30 PM.  “Anything That Rolls” will line up at Bank of America parking lot.  Helmets are required. 

The Foothills Community Band will be performing immediately following the parade, on the courthouse lawn. Since its humble beginnings in 2003, the group has molded now into a well respected ensemble with members from many surrounding areas.  Marion Business Association is proud to feature the Foothill Community Band for the Independence Day Celebration playing a good mix of pop and patriotic favorites.

Little Miss McDowell, Victoria “Tori” Hensley, will perform just before the street dance. 

At 7:00 PM, “SideStreet” will take the stage with their high energy performance.  SideStreet came to fruition out of a casual jam session in the summer of '97, reuniting members of the popular cover band “Cahoots”. Quickly it grew to a weekly get together with musicians from several local bands from the 60s' and 70s'. It didn't take long before the fever hit and they decided to take the music out of the basement. By 1999 SideStreet was building a name for themselves and gathering a loyal following.
SideStreet plays the classic rock sounds from influences such as the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mellencamp and Pink Floyd with a touch of more current favorites adding to the mix.  
Playing it the way you remember it are: Marion native and Granite Falls resident Dean Krause on bass and lead vocals~ Marionites Darrell Camby on guitar and lead vocals~ Steve Taylor, drums and background vocals~ Ronnie Taylor on lead guitar, keyboard and background vocals.

Food and beverages will be available.  Free inflatables for the kids!!!

The evening will conclude with fireworks at 9:45 p.m.  They will be shot from the recreation field on West Court Street.  Due to fallout from fireworks, no one will be allowed in the area around the ball field. 

Bring a lawn chair and enjoy an evening of fun with your friends and neighbors!  Due to street closure, seating for the fireworks show is available in the street on West Court Street.  The hill gives a great view of the fireworks show.